The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Legislative Council serves as a regional legislature with the power to pass and change statutes for the territory. Nonetheless, electoral processes for this assembly have seen a sharp reduction in substantive competing voices amid significant governance overhauls in the past few years.
After the 1997 handover, a framework of a dual-system arrangement was put in place, pledging that Hong Kong would retain a level of self-governance. Gradually, analysts argue that civil liberties have been increasingly eroded.
Key Events and Reforms
During 2014, a bill was tabled that would have allow residents to elect the head of government. Importantly, the selection was confined to contenders vetted by Beijing.
In 2019 was marked by months of protests, including an episode where protesters breached the parliamentary premises to express anger against a contentious law.
The Consequence of the NSL
Enacted in June 2020, the NSL granted unprecedented powers to the mainland over Hong Kong's affairs. Acts such as subversion were criminalized. Following this law, the primary democratic party dissolved.
Today's Election System
LegCo elections are considered Hong Kong's key political event. However, laws introduced in the past few years now ensure that only hopefuls deemed pro-establishment are able to run for office.
- Seat Composition: Now, only 20 out of 90 seats are filled by public ballot.
- Remaining Seats: The balance are chosen by a pro-establishment committee.
- Proposed Standards: Recent drafted requirements would mandate legislators to publicly support Beijing's jurisdiction.
Electoral Turnout
Given most forms of protest now criminalized, abstaining from voting has been seen as one of the few legal ways for residents to show disapproval. This has led to record low electoral engagement in recent LegCo polls.
